Grip bracelet



Aug. Z, 1960 o. STRAUB 2,947,455

GRIP BRACELET Filed April 25, 3.957

@No t rau b BOfw United States GRIP BRACELET Otto Straub, Wangen, Kreis Goppingen, Germany, assignor to Lewa G.m.b.H., Uhingen, Wurttemberg, Germany, a rm Filed Apr. Z3, 1957, Ser. No. 654,569 `Claims priority, application Germany Apr. 25, 1956 4 Claims. (Cl.`2244) The present invention relates to a grip bracelet comprising a clip-like metal spring band having two arms onto which sleeves of leather, plastic material or the like are slipped and Which grip around the wrist of the wearer and over each other thereby holding a watch secured to the bracelet, on the wrist by tension.

The object of the invention is to provide a grip bracelet having a metal spring band which is covered on all sides with leather, plastic material or the like, that is no metal parts are visible or can bear against the skin ofthe wearer, there are no apertures which contribute4 to its damage or wear, the form of the covering ensures attractive appearance especially at the places conforming to the shape of the watch, and the watch and the covering are reliably connected to the metal spring band.

According to the invention, a grip bracelet, particularly for watches, comprises a metal spring band having `a middle portion extending under the watch, two arms extending from said middle portion, and end portions `formed by the two arms and overlapping each other,

separate sleeves slipped one onto each of said arms, attachment means for the watch carried by and reinforcing each sleeve and consisting of an insertion having a hook formed at one end thereof.

The sleeves on the arms of the metal spring band may have widening front portions which arekept in shape by the insertions.

For this purpose each one of the insertions may consist of a curved box-shaped slide which tits in the widening front portion of the sleeve. This slide increases in height and width from its rear portion conforming to the cross section of the arms of the metal spring band towards its front end carrying the hook for attaching the watch. The widening front portion of the sleeve completely covers the slide and is rmly connected therewith. The slide has a bottom portion which follows the curvature of the metal spring band and a top portion which rises to the height of the attachment bar of the watch.

The middle portion of the metal spring band located under the watch is surrounded Aby a sleeve which is independent of the sleeves slipped onto the two arms of the metal spring band. Adjacent end portions of the middle sleeve and the outer sleeves overlap each other, for example owing to the fact that the end portions of the sleeve of the middle part extend into the hollow interior of the box-shaped slides in the widening front portions of the sleeves on the two arms. The middle portion of the metal spring lband located under the watch becomes thinner towards the center of the watch.

In a grip bracelet constructed in this manner, the metal spring band and the slides guided thereon, as well as the hooks for attaching the watch, are completely covered by the sleeves so that the lirst parts mentioned, which form the elastic skeleton of the band, are invisible, do not detract from the pleasing appearance and do not come into contact with the skin so that they are protected against corrosion. This attractive appearance is promoted by the fact that the slides reinforce the front portions of the sleeves by their curved shape increasing both in height and width towards the watch, that is permanently retain this shape. The slides, being guided on the arms of the metal spring band, can be adjusted `together with the sleeves connected to them so that the spacing of their hooks can easily be adapted to that of the attachment bars on the watch, that is to watches of dilerent sizes. By the fact that the slides are guided on the metal spring band, these parts are positively connected in such a manner that they cannot be pulled apart and the watch cannot get lost. 'Ihe sleeves being rmly connected with the slides can likewise not be pulled oif the metal spring band. The reduction in thickness of the middle portion of the metal spring band imparts thereto an elastic tension suitable for hooking on, unhooking and reliably holding the watch.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in longitudinal section, of a grip bracelet with a wrist watch held thereon; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a slide with a hoo vfor attaching the watch, and

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, on a larger scale, of the middle portion of a metal spring band.

As shown in Fig. 1, a grip bracelet, holding a wrist V watch 3 with a bottom part 4, comprises a clip-like metal spring band 1 having a middle portion 11 extending under the watch, two arms 12 extending from said middle portion, and end portions 17*J formed by the two arms 12 and overlapping each other. The middle portion 11 of the metal spring band in relaxed state is slightly bent out from its middle whereas the arms 12 extending therefrom are more strongly bent outwards and then 4inwards towards each other in such a manner that they conform to the wearers wrist under slight tension and their end portions 13 overlap each other with the result that the .bracelet is securely held on the wrist.- The middle portion 11 of the metal spring band 1 is surrounded by a sleeve 2 of leather, plastic material or the like, against which the bottom part 4 of the watch 3 bears. The two arms 12 of the metal spring band 1 extend into sleeves 5 of leather, plastic material or the like which have closed rear ends and open front portions 51 widening towards their mouth so as to form a gradual graceful transition to the watch 3. In the widening front portions 51 of each one of the sleeves 5 a slid-e 6 ts. This slide -6 is in the form of a box of substantially rectangular cross section, curved in longitudinal direction, and has a rear portion 61 which is adapted to the cross section and the curvature of the arm 12 of the metal spring band 1 and is consequently guided movable in longitudinal direction thereon and at the same time connected therewith, whereas its cross section towards its front end increases in height and width so that it has a rising top portion 62. This top portion `62 is bent at its front end to form a hook 7 open in downward direction. The slide 6 imparts its above-mentioned shape to the front portion 51 of the sleeve 5 which is in itself soft so that it assumes a shape increasing in cross section in height and width towards the watch and is permanently maintained in this shape.

The'slides 6 serve also to reliably yet detachably connect the metal spring band 1 with the watch 3 which has attachment bars 9 carried by horns 8. For this purpose the slides are swung upwards against the action of the metal spring band 1 and their hooks 7 engaged from above in the attachment bars 9 carried by the horns 8 of the Watch 3. In this arrangement the top portions 62 of the slides 6 and the upper sides of the sleeves 5, respec- 9 and merge in a graceful manner into the exposed surface of the watch 3. When engaging the hooks 7 in the attachment bars 9, the middle portion 11 of the metal spring band 1 is tensioned against the bottom 4 of the watch andthis tension maintains the hooks in `firm en'- :gagernent with the attachment bars*9 and reliably holds the watch 3. In order tobring this tension to the desired strength which Aalso enables the hooks 7 to'fbe disengaged from the attachment bars .9, the middle portion 11 of the lmetal spring band 1 decreases in thicknesstowards the middle of the watch 3. As the slides 6 are longitudinally slidable on themetal spring band 1 they can be adjusted in a simple manner so `thattheir hooks 7 correspond to the spacing of the attachment bars 9 of wrist watches of different sizes. The slides 6 are firmly connected with the widening front portions 51 of thev sleeves 5 which they reinforce. This is attained by the fact that they arezstuck in said front portions 51. Projecting seams 52 of the sleeves Iare folded inwards about -all edges of the hooks 7 as well as about all edges of the slides 6 to the inner sides thereof and are also stuck in this position. Due to this rm Vconnection between the slides 6 and the sleeves 5, these latter cannot bepulled off the arms 12 of the metal spring band 1. The sleeve 2 of the middle portion `11 and the sleeves 5 of the Aarms 12 of the metal spring band 1 are made of suchlength that their adjacent end portions 21 and 52 mutually overlap so as to prevent the metal spring hand 1 from becoming visible at the points of transition. In the example illustrated the sleeve 2 has end portions 21 extending into the hollow interior 63 ofthe slides in the front portions 51 of the sleeves 5.

From the above detailed description of the invention, it is believed that the construction will at once be apparent, and while there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In a grip bracelet for a wrist watch and the like, the combination of a slip-like spring band, the central portion of which is adapted to extend under a wrist watch with the ends thereof lying in overlapped relation, a ilexible center sleeve mounted on and inclosing the intermediate portion of the spring band and anchored thereto, flexible terminal end sleeve members on the overlapping ends of the spring band extending a distance thereon to receive the adjacent ends of the center sleeve and the terminal ends of the end sleeve members being of increased size, a box-like watch attaching member disposed in the enlarged terminal end of each end sleeve in surrounding relation to the spring band and hook means on each box-like member extending toward and adapted to engage a watch, said box-like attaching members also serving as a shape retainer for the enlarged terminal ends of the end sleeves and being freely slidable with respect to the portions of the spring lband associated therewith.

2. In a grip bracelet for a wrist watch and the like, the combination of a clip-like spring band, the central portion of which is adapted to extend under a wrist watch with the ends thereof lying in. overlapped relation, a flexible center sleeve mounted on and inclosing the intermediate portion of the spring band and anchored thereto, flexible terminal end sleeve members on the overlapping ends of the spring band extending a distance thereon to receive the adjacent ends of the center sleeve land `the terminal ends of the end sleeve members being ofincreased size, a box-like watch attaching member disposed in the enlarged terminal end of each end sleeve in surrounding relation to the spring band and hook means on each box-like member extending toward and adapted to engage a watch, said box-like attaching members also serving as a shape retainer for the enlarged terminal ends of the end sleeves and being freely slidable with respect to the portions of the ,spring .band associated therewith, the center sleeve being of such length that when the boxlike members are spaced a maximum distance apart, the ends of the center sleeve will still project into the open enlarged terminal ends of the end sleeve portions.

3. In a grip bracelet for a Wrist watch and the like, the combination of a clip-like spring band, the central portion of which is adapted to extend under a wrist watch with the ends thereof lying in overlapped relation, a flexible center sleeve mounted on and inclosing the intermediate portion of the spring band and anchored thereto, flexible terminal end sleeve members on the overlapping ends of the spring band extending a distance thereon to receive the adjacent-ends of the center sleeve and the terminal ends of the end sleeve members being of increased size, a box-like watch attaching member ldisposed in the enlarged terminal end of each end sleeve in surrounding relation to the spring band, and hook means on each box-like member extending toward and adapted to engage a Watch, said box-like members being open at both ends and of gradually increasing depth towards the watch with the bottom and side walls thereof curved to conform to the curvature of the wearers Wrist, said boxlike attaching members lalso serving as a shape retainer for the enlarged terminal ends of the end sleeves and being freely slidable with respect to the portions of the spring band associated therewith.

4. In a grip bracelet for a wrist watch and the like, tl e combination of a clip-like spring band, the central portion of which is adapted to extend under a wrist watch with the ends thereof lying in overlapped relation, a flexible center sleeve mounted on and inclosing the intermediate portion of the spring band and anchored thereto, flexible terminal end'slceve members on the overlapping ends of the spring band extending a distance thereon to receive the adjacent ends of the center sleeve and the terminal ends of the end sleeve members being of increased size, a box-like watch attaching member disposed in the enlarged terminal endof each end sleevein surrounding relation to the spring band and hook means on each boxlike member extending toward and adapted to engage a watch, said box-like members being open at both ends and of gradually increasing depth towards the Watch with the bottom and side walls thereof curved to conform to the curvature of the wearers wrist, said box-like attaching members also serving as a shape retainer for the enlarged terminal ends of the end sleeves and being freely slidable with respect to the portions of the spring` band associated therewith, the center sleeve being of such length that when the box-like members are spaced a maximum distance apart, the ends of the center sleeve will still project into the open enlarged terminal ends of the .end sleeve portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,186,089 Baker Ian. 9, 1940 2,521,375 Johnston Sept. 5, 1950 2,751,132 Myerson June 19, 1950 2,619,270 Foster Nov. 25,1952

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,110,617 France Oct. l2, 1955 

